Moose on the Loose Radio Tracking on the Prescott Penninsula
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DOWNSTREAM Page Number 17 Moose on the Loose Radio Tracking on the Prescott Penninsula Moose are North America’s largest wild the next 50 years were probably northern animal. An average adult moose weighs moose who wandered south. Since the around 1,000 pounds and stands 6 feet tall late 1980s, the number of moose sightings at the shoulder. Moose and their has increased greatly. In 1998, the state’s ancestors originated in Siberia and made moose population was estimated as at their way to North America across the least 75 animals including cows with Bering land bridge. At the time of calves. In 2006, the estimate had European settlement, moose were increased to about 1,000 animals. distributed from Alaska, across Canada Reasons for the increase in moose into the northern United States from North populations include the absence of Dakota east to Pennsylvania and all of predators, reversion of farms to forested New England, including Massachusetts. areas, legal protection, increased wetlands Moose also extended down the Rocky MOOSE - SEE Mountains in the West. Temperature was PAGE 4 probably the limiting factor in the Moose roam southern distribution of moose freely on the in North America. Because Prescott moose are adapted to Penninsula at cold northern climates, the Quabbin Reservoir. DCR winter stress typically is working with occurs when temperatures several agen- exceed 23°F and summer stress cies to study when temperatures are greater than 59°F. their behavior using radio Moose were extirpated from tracking. Massachusetts by the early- DCR/DWSP Staff Photo to mid-1800s. A small number of moose escaped from a game preserve in Berkshire County around 1911 and may have persisted NUMBER 17 for several years. Spring 2007 Most sightings during In This Issue: With spring, the outside world once again Moose on the Loose 1 How DCR tracks the moose population thrives. The grass, trees, birds and a host Hook, Line and Sinker 2 of other players are busy at work. This The perils of lost fishing tackle issue of Downstream describes how DCR Watershed Dams 3 DCR staff keeps tabs on one of our larger Watchful eyes keep dams strong animal friends as they go about their daily Making Tracks 7 Department of Conservation business. Useful information is also A Kids Corner animal tracking activity and Recreation provided for those who will take to fishing West Rutland Village Memorial 8 Division of Water Supply in the coming months. Remembrance of a by-gone time Protection www.mass.gov/dcr/ waterSupply.htm DOWNSTREAM Page2 Spring 2007 Although the problems are much worse at ooks, ine inking ll ildlife Wachusett because it is limited to shore H L S A W fishing, the Quabbin, where most fish from by MARY ANNE MAGEIRA. This article has been reprinted with permis- boats, also contributes to the problem. sion of the author and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Among other species, Packard recently found a dead female common merganser Catch me if you can, entangled in line at Quabbin. but don’t hurt me The muskrat incident moved Packard to if you can’t take on a public education project to convince people to carry out their tangled line. It is expected to debut at Wachusett this spring. The project will feature disposal canisters designed for discarded fishing line at key reservoir entry points Photos, DCR/DWSP and signs to educate the public about the dangers of discarding fishing line. The agency will also seek assistance from sportsmen’s clubs and bait shops. “It’s a privilege to fish at Wachusett,” Packard said. “It’s a reservoir; we don’t want rotting bodies there. We have rare species there and we have to take care of J Taylor them.” I cringe every time a smallmouth throws a “We spend a lot of time working out of a The issue of thrown and discarded plastic senko off my line into the lake, knowing boat at Wachusett. We’re always picking lures is somewhat less straightforward. that something plastic, made from up entangled wildlife,” said Paula Packard, “Certainly, never throw plastics petroleum products, can’t be good for the an aquatic biologist with the state overboard. Keep as many as you can in water or the fish that live there. Department of Conservation and the boat and take them out with you,” said Recreation. “I reached my limit last week Todd Richards, an aquatic biologist with Then, there’s the disbelief that surfaces after we found a drowned muskrat all the state Division of Fisheries and when I see wads of fishing line tucked tangled up in fishing line. The hook and HOOKS - SEE PAGE 6 here and there into divots and tree rubber worm was still attached.” branches while having my lunch on the shore. Please Recycle Your Old Fishing Line! As it turns out, abandoned fishing line, especially with hooks and lures (all kinds) attached, kills fish and wildlife. The jury is The DCR Office of Water Supply Protection still out on the dangers of discarded is launching an initiative aimed at reducing plastic baits. the amount of discarded fishing line at the Wachusett Reservoir. Improperly “We do have issues with plastics and discarded fishing line poses a grave fishing line,” said John Scannell, regional danger to many kinds of wildlife. director of the Wachusett and Sudbury watersheds for the state Division of Water If you have old fishing line or see fishing Supply and Protection. “We’re trying to line on the ground, please place it in one of the canisters, similar to one shown here, come up with ways to convince people to These that you will find at a number of shoreline get rid of it, to carry it out with them.” images locations around the reservoir. show the The state’s policy of carrying out all the old Scar Thank you for helping to keep the stuff you bring in when you fish at the Hill Road Wachusett Reservoir pristine and our Wachusett and Quabbin reservoirs is not bridge. wildlife safe! If you’d like more information Side-scan working. The agency spends a small about this project or the risks from fortune getting rid of endless balls and improperly disposed fishing line, please strings of fishing line and other things left contact Aquatic Biologist Paula Packard at behind at the end of every fishing season. 508-792-7423 Ext.220. DCR/DWSP Staff Photo DOWNSTREAM Page3 Number 17 The Safety of Dams... Managed by the Office of Water Supply Protection The Wachusett Dam at the Wachusett Reservoir in July of 2006. Photo: DCR/DWSP Dam Inspection Team The October 2005 and May 2006 “Storms implemented the first phases of a new Dams are classified based on their hazard of the Century” placed a spotlight on program calling for registration, potential into three categories: dams in the Commonwealth. The DCR inspection, and repair of dams by owners. 1. High Hazard Potential dams are Office of Dam Safety, which ensures Owners of 800 dams were identified, 700 located where failure will likely compliance with regulations pertaining to dams were clarified for regulatory cause loss of life and serious dam inspection, maintenance, operation jurisdiction, and 1,500 dam inspections damage to home(s), industrial or and repair, valiantly worked along with were completed. All 340 DCR-owned commercial facilities, important local, state, and federal officials to avoid dams, including the 83 maintained by the public utilities, main highway(s) or catastrophes, especially at the Office of Watershed Management and the railroad(s). Whittendon Pond Dam in Taunton. The Massachusetts Water Resources Office of Dam Safety subsequently Authority, have achieved regulatory 2. Significant Hazard Potential dams promulgated new regulations and compliance. are located where failure may cause When a Dam Is More Than Just the Dam loss of life and damage home(s), industrial or commercial facilities, A dam is defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as “a secondary highway(s) or railroad(s) barrier built across a watercourse for impounding or diverting the flow of water.” or cause interruption of use or There can be more to holding back water than just a dam. Spillways and dikes service of relatively important are key components to several of the reservoirs in the DCR Watershed System. facilities. The Winsor, Wachusett, and Sudbury Dams also have spillways, which are “structures over or through which flood flows are discharged.” MWRA and DCR 3. Low Hazard Potential dams are are currently in the process of rehabilitating the Wachusett Spillway. located where failure may cause minimal property damage to others. A dike, also referred to as a levee, is a “long low embankment whose height is Loss of life is not expected. usually less than 4 to 5 meters and whose length is more than 15 times the maximum height…[it describes] embankments that block areas on a reservoir Dam owners are required to hire a rim that are lower than the top of the main dam and that are quite long.” The qualified engineer to inspect and report Goodnough Dike at Quabbin Reservoir, for example, is 2,140 feet wide at the top results every 2 years for High Hazard and 878 feet wide at the bottom. It prevents the overflow of the lowlands Potential dams, every 5 years for surrounding Beaver Brook, rather than directly damming that tributary’s flow. Significant Hazard Potential dams, and every 10 years for Low Hazard Potential dams. There are 19 High Hazard Potential dams in the DCR/MWRA watershed system, including Wachusett Dam and the Winsor Dam, which respectively hold back water for the Wachusett and Quabbin The Quabbin Spillway safely Reservoirs, as well as the four dams managing the 2007 spring within the Sudbury Reservoir watershed.